They do this every year–pop up from their winter homes in January. Out by my mailbox, small, green shoots of narcissus poke up. By the front porch, hyacinth blades raise their heads. Maybe it’s because of the warmer weather or maybe they’re just getting tired of being underground. They’ll undoubtedly get nipped by frost or […]
Jan 6, 2026
Life B. K.
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There was life Before Kittens and there is Life After Kittens. My son, daughter-in-law and grandson decided something was lacking in their lives and that something was a kitten. As it happened, a friend was looking for a home for a little stray who had popped unexpectedly into their truck and, at great peril, had […]
Jan 5, 2026
Twelve Days of Christmas
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The Twelve Days of Christmas. With my family’s help, I added words that might be appropriate for a writer of cozy mysteries. Thanks, Matt, Dawn, Sara, Nathan! A Cozy Mystery Writer’s Sizzling Twelve Days of Christmas On the first day of Christmas, Santa brought to me: a creative cozy mystery. On the second day of Christmas, […]
Jan 4, 2026
Mom in Mysteries
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I’ve heard women say, “I don’t want to become my mother as I grow older.” How sad. If someone tells me I’m like my mom, I consider it a huge compliment. My mother and I were best friends. I think you’d have liked her. If you never had that privilege, you can get just a […]
Jan 3, 2026
Howling at the Moon
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That extra bright moon shining through your window is called the Wolf Moon. Why? Perhaps because at this time of year, wolf howls were heard as they searched for food. I can imagine it–an early day family sitting inside their warm house, hearth fire blazing, wind howling outside, sounding eerily like the howl of a […]
Jan 2, 2026
Reflections
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Reflection is “a thought or writing about something, particularly in the past, or what one sees when looking into a body of water.” Reflections can be seen in eyes or heard in voices. A writer is both a reflector and a sponge. She soaks up a lot of images, words, outlooks, memories, and sifts through […]
